The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-08-18
THE FATALAIR BRAKE
CAUSES ANOTHER sEulous WRECK
On tho u. & o. Rond In Washington, ID. q.
A Messenger Trnln Goingn Miioa Minute
Jumps tho Track, and Death, Injury
mud Confusion Follow, of Course,

WARRINGTON, D. O., August 17.--The
few residents in thu neighborhood Of the
Baltimore 4 Ohio "Y" who were up and
on tho street at $50 O'Clock This morn
ing witnessed singular and startling
scene. 1t WAS no less q spectacle than
that Of train Of cars leaping from the
track and rushing with the speed oil
lightning and tho crash OF thunderbolt
through a brick house. In an instant
both tho train and the house were In a
heap OF ruins, and the track for some dis.
lance was Uttered with debris. The train
to which tho accident occurred, WAS train
No. 4, the St. Louis, Chicago aud Oincin-
natl express coming from the west about
$3.50. 1t came laundering into the city
over the Metropolitan branch and at a
curve nearly mile away from the "Y"
began whistling ''down brakes." For
aonie reason the brakes were not put
down. Tho air brakes 1t was stated did
not work and the engineer hegsa blowing
the distress whiAIle for tho brakemen to
put on the regular brakes. Either the
brakemen did not hesd the signal, or II
was not given in time, for the,train, living
at frightfut rate, came laundering on
toward the sharp curve at the "Y." On
the south side Of the ny" IN the little
corner made by the intersection OF the
tracks was located railroad signal tower,
a black structure, three stories high,
where the railroad men and employees
regulate signals and switches at the w"
When the train turned the sharp curve
with fearful headway the cars behind the
engine flew from the track and smsshed
into the signal tower, and In an Instant
there was a wreck. which for contugion
has seldom been equallsd in railroad an.
mails. The engine was dragged from tho
track and ploughing through dirt aud
mud Tor l5O feet rolled completely over.
Near. the engine lay Hamilton Brosius,
engineer, &
CRUSHED AND DYING,
and his fireman with several bones broken.
But behind the engine was scene oil
panic and confusion. One car was crushed
and nearly buried under the tracks snd
the timbera Of the demolished building.
Two sleeping coaches and one passenger
coach remained on the track. The mail
car, express car and baggage Car werp
rolled over and their sides crushed. Tho
roof Of one car p,otruded from the ruins
Of the building. The disaster created in
tenee excitement, and FIRE alarm was
sounded, which soon brought the fire de.
partment and police to the scene. Am
balances were hurriedly sent for, and
corps OF physicians came, summoned from
every direction. Firemen, policemen,
railroad men and citizens went to work
with coats off to clear the debris. Many
injured passengers were removed and
taken to neighboring houses, or drug
stores, or to hospitals. In this way IS or
20 people were got out OF the wreck, some
Of them only slightly injured, others with
bones broken and bodies badly bruised
and cut. In the signal tower William
Baxter, railroad signslman, was at work.
He realized the impending danger In time
and leaped from the upper floor Of tho
tower to the ground. He broke his arm
and wss badly used up, but seems 10 have
escaped more serious injury. @
William d. Rollins, OF S3l Second street,
who was formerly fireman for Engineer
Brosius. said to o reporter Of the
press: "Just as boon as heard the dis
tress whistle l knew there would be an
accident. They were late and were com.
ing in at the rate OF sixty miles an hour.
The air brakes would not work and he
blew the distress whistle for his crow to
put the hand-btakes on, and aome people
think they had time to get them on, but
it seems they did not.
The following is ss complete list Of the
killed ard injured as it is possible to OBJ
tain: F..
E.E THE DEAD AND WOUNDED. 5;s